Council grants District 1 wish to keep $750,000 in bond funding

Councilman Victor Hernandez and 30-plus Lubbockites who rallied to his defense in Thursday’s Lubbock City Council meeting got to keep $750,000 in unspent bond money.

In an about face from ignoring Hernandez’s request earlier this month, Lubbock’s City Council on Thursday voted unanimously to designate bond money approved by voters in 2004 for street renovations, designating the money for North University Avenue renovations as part of the 2013 budget.

The council heard an earful from citizens calling for the council to reverse its Sept. 13 decision that would have used the money for an ongoing 34th Street face-lift.

“It was the voters that decided on this and we need to respect that,” former District 1 Councilwoman Maggie Trejo told the council during public comments.

No one spoke against moving the bond money back to District 1.

Maurice Stanley, a member of the 34th Street Association, said he didn’t want anyone in the city to perceive District 3 was trying to take District 1’s money.

“That is certainly not what we’re wanting,” he said.

He told the council he would prefer the money be used on District 1 street improvements if there were plans for such a project.

And Hernandez obliged.

The vote came after the councilman focused his request to use the bond money on North University Street repairs instead of the Buddy Holly Park improvements he requested Sept. 13. when no other council member would agree to second his amendment to discuss the item.

After Thursday’s vote, Hernandez told the Avalanche-Journal he opted to focus on road, sidewalk, lighting and aesthetic improvements benefiting North University Avenue between Marsha Sharp Boulevard and Clovis Highway.

Councilman Todd Klein, whose central Lubbock District 3 would have directly benefited from the bond money shift to 34th Street, said Hernandez’s initial request to use the bond money for parks didn’t qualify for the funding.

“What you’re offering tonight is within that intent,” Klein said.

Earlier this week, City Manager LeeAnn Dumbauld told the Avalanche-Journal the bond money wasn’t designated for a certain area or project when voters approved the issue in 2004. The $750,000 in bonds were issued in 2009.

The Internal Revenue Service requires the city to use the money within a three-year window, Dumbauld explained earlier this week.

Mayor Glen Robertson attributed the council’s turnaround on the issue to members learning more about the history of the bond election and a firm plan from Hernandez that met the bond’s requirements.

“It also never hurts to have the public show up and speak for it,” he said. “I know Councilman Hernandez worked hard to get people to come out and it goes to show that, if citizens come out and speak to the council, the council will listen.”